Followers

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Ghost of the Crystal - Part 9

Tyrin's wound looked worst than it felt.The archer was not only skilled in his
art, but knew how to dress a wound with a gentle and experienced hand.Morra was silent as Minn untied her.

"Thank you, both of you," Tyrin said with a
humble smile.Prril reared up and
nipped at his fingers in protest until she got the reward she'd been looking
for, a pet behind the ears."And you too, Prril.Who is our savior?" he asked, addressing the archer.

"I am UrVa of the Valley of Stones," he
said in deep, calm tones.Everything
he did was slow, deliberate, and efficient, including the way he spoke.

"The Valley of Stones?Then you are a Mystic?I've heard so many tales of your people: that you are both wise and kind
to gelfling, that you seek to destroy the Great Crystal, that any who wander
into the Valley are killed.You do
not seem evil to me."

UrVa smiled and gave a single nod."Many lies have been spread.We prefer to let our actions speak for
us."

"Your actions are very welcome.How did you find us?" Tyrin asked
and nodded to Minn."I
thought you were dead."

Minn helped Morra get to her feet and shook his
head."Such was not in the
designs of the sands of fate.Prril was an invaluable distraction," he said as his hands danced
before him.Tyrin had never heard
him speak so much at one time."Our camp was not far from the Podling Village where the clans
gather.The Mystics were asked by
Aughra to watch over the Gathering, even though they are feared by many.Friend UrVa was quick to answer my
plea."

"The three suns are aligned tomorrow just before
dusk.The Gathering must happen
then, yet we await the arrival of the Vapra clan," UrVa told them.Morra bit her lip and leaned against
the tree.

"Kleo?" Minn asked, placing his hand over
his heart."Jag-Ben?"

Tyrin shook his head solemnly."Jag-Ben was caught and Kleo
stayed behind to save him.We need
to find them before the Hunter does."He got to his feet and pulled his worn shirt on."I can't believe that creature was
a Skeksis.I've only heard good things
about them.They've educated
gelflings, held grand feasts in our honor, and work tirelessly to keep us
safe."

Minn nodded and motioned to his mouth. "Words
are words."

"Then let's stop using words and start using
actions," Tyrin said."You
and I should find Kleo and Jag-Ben while UrVa takes Morra back to the Village,
since she is the Vapra clan's representative."

"No!I mean, I want to help you look for the others," Morra quickly
said."You've all done so
much for me already, I can't abandon you now."

"They're gone."The three suns had risen by the time they found the empty
net that Jag-Ben had been captured in.The branch of the tree had been roughly cut off and the net left loose
and open on the ground.

"They escaped," Tyrin said as he examined
the scene."The cut is not
clean.The Hunter's blade would
not leave a mess like this.Their
trail leads off this way."

UrVa pulled an arm out to stop Tyrin from following
it and put a finger to his lips."The Hunter's trail is fresh here, too," he said softly."Be careful, gelflings."

"Then let's not waste any time," Tyrin
said, then paused and looked around with a sigh."Where's Morra?"

None of them could recall the last time they had seen
her.UrVa ran a long, knobby
finger against the ground and chanted an archaic verse."Her trail and yours are joined,
Tyrin," he said after a time, marking two joining lines in the dirt."You will travel together, or you
will fall separately.You are
important to each other, Tyrin."

Tyrin hesitated for a moment."You saved our lives, UrVa.I will trust your wisdom.But where will I find her?And what of Jag-Ben and Kleo?"

"Do not worry, young gelfling.We will find your friends.Take the shard; let it guide you."
UrVa lay a comforting hand on Tyrin's shoulder."Trust in yourself, Tyrin.Trust in each other.Now hurry."

Tyrin gripped the shard tightly."Trust in myself.Right then," he said and brought
the shard to his chest. He turned, eyes closed.His mind wandered, eventually settling on the silvery note
she had sung when he was captured.Her voice in his thoughts, he stepped forward and opened his eyes
again.Instinct guided his every
step.